(NC)
It
goes without saying that last winter was hard to endure. The ice storms
that hit Southern Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes last December made
it difficult for thousands to stay warm. Some residents found refuge
in warming centres, while others decided to hunker down in their cold
and dark homes. A few lucky families huddled together into one room
that thankfully had a fireplace or wood-burning stove. Hopefully the
2014 Farmer's Almanac is right and this winter won't be as severe. But
if your memories from last year still have you thinking about buying a
fireplace or wood-burning stove, the experts from Desjardins Insurance
have some suggestions on how you can keep everyone safe, warm and
protected.
Fire prevention:
• Equip
your home with smoke detectors. If they are well located and
maintained, they can save your life. Clean them regularly and replace
the batteries twice a year, typically in March and November when the
clocks are reset. Also consider equipping your home with a fire alarm
system connected to a remote monitoring center.
• Place
one or more fire extinguishers in locations that all family members
can easily access and be sure they know how to use them properly.
• Maintain
your furnace and hot water heater on a regular basis. This should also
include replacing your furnace filter every 90 days.
• Hire
a professional to clean your furnace and/or fireplace chimney
regularly to prevent creosote build-up. Also make sure that your flue
vents are in good working order.
• If
you regularly use a fireplace or stove, only burn well-seasoned wood
or special fire logs. Burning other material like cardboard, garbage
and plastics will bring chemicals into your home and will create
dangerous buildup in your chimney.
• When starting your fire, only use matches and open the damper. This should remain open until your fire is well out and cool.
• While
your fire burns, put up a screen to keep kids and pets away from the
flame, and to keep the logs and embers in the fireplace.
• Once your fire is out and cooled, keep the ashes in a metal container until they're cold enough to throw out.
CO2 Protection:
• Carbon
monoxide is an odorless and colourless gas that is produced by burning
fuels. Because it can't be detected by regular means, this gas can
make you ill or can kill you.
• As
evidenced by the recent ice storm, make sure your home is equipped
with a carbon monoxide detector with a battery back-up. These alarms
are affordable and can be found in most hardware stores.
• To
prevent a CO2 leak, make sure that there is proper air circulation in
your home, never use your BBQ inside and if your house has a connected
garage, never run your car with the garage door closed.
www.newscanada.com
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